Zhong Peiquan, the former editor-in-chief of Stand News, Lin Shaotong, the acting editor-in-chief, and the registered company of the website, were charged with conspiracy to publish or reproduce seditious publications. The case will be brought up again in the District Court today (23rd).
In addition to Lin Shaotong's plea of not guilty earlier, Zhong Peiquan also pleaded not guilty. The prosecution has sent the relevant documents, but the defendant company has not yet sent personnel to respond to the hearing, so it is regarded as a choice not to plead guilty, and the judge will schedule the case to October 31 The trial will start on the same day, and it is expected to take 20 days.
The three defendants are: Best Pencil (Hong Kong) Limited, Zhong Peiquan (52 years old) and Lin Shaotong (34 years old).
The charge alleges that between 7 July 2020 and 29 December 2021, they conspired with others to publish and/or reproduce seditious publications in Hong Kong, namely publications with the following intent:
(a) To cause hatred or contempt for the Central Government or the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or to provoke rebellion against it:
(b) provoking Hong Kong residents to attempt to induce changes in other legally enacted matters in Hong Kong without lawful means;
(c) cause resentment, contempt or provoke betrayal of the Hong Kong judiciary
(d) causing dissatisfaction and betrayal among Hong Kong residents:
(e) Incite others to use violence: and/or
(f) counsel others to disobey the law or to obey a lawful order.
Case number: DCCC 265/2022
Lin Shaotong, the former acting editor-in-chief of "Stand News", intends to plead guilty Obtaining information and prohibiting police from viewing the content